FLASHBACK: “I’m Not Desperate for Emir of Gwandu Stool” – Jokolo
Seven years ago, on May 30, 2018, the deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, stood outside a courtroom and told Daily Sun reporters, “I’m not desperate for the Emir of Gwandu stool.”
Jokolo was removed in 2005 and banished from Kebbi State by the government. Despite this, he maintained that his legal challenge was not about reclaiming power but about seeking justice.
In 2014, the Kebbi State High Court ruled that his deposition was illegal and ordered his reinstatement, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal in Sokoto in 2016.
A panel led by Justice Tunde Awotoye held that the governor violated Sections 6 and 7 of the Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law and Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution by failing to conduct an inquiry or consult the Council of Chiefs before removing Jokolo, thus denying him a fair hearing.
The court also ordered the payment of Jokolo’s ten years’ salaries and entitlements.
However, the Kebbi State Government and the current Emir, Alhaji Muhammad Ilyasu Bashar — who was appointed after Jokolo’s removal — challenged the rulings at the Supreme Court, arguing that due process had been followed and that Jokolo’s suit was premature.
On June 4, 2025, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in a split decision of three to two, concluding nearly two decades of litigation.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the lead judgment, ruled that the Kebbi State High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain Jokolo’s suit.
He explained that under Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, aggrieved persons must first submit a formal complaint to the governor before seeking redress in court.
Since Jokolo did not follow this procedure, the Supreme Court held that his suit was premature and the lower court rulings were a nullity.
The court consequently set aside the decisions of the High Court and the Court of Appeal and dismissed Jokolo’s reinstatement bid. No order was made as to costs.
However, in a dissenting judgment, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed Salami supported the lower court decisions, stating that the governor’s actions still required adherence to due process and the law.
The Supreme Court had earlier consolidated four appeals and two cross-appeals into a single proceeding, with all parties agreeing that the verdict on the principal appeal would determine the outcome of the rest.
Throughout the legal battle, Jokolo consistently stated, “I’m not desperate. I am only interested in justice. I was wronged, and I followed the law. Let the law take its course.”
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